Source: 9News
A major grant is helping students in Carbondale, Avon and Glenwood Springs continue to access health care through school-based clinics, Mountain Family Health Centers announced. The organization received nearly $20,000 to support its medical centers located inside local schools, providing care to students who might not otherwise have access.
“Kids will walk through, who haven’t had any healthcare prior to that point,” said McKenzie Rieder, Clinical Program Manager and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Mountain Family Health Centers. “We absolutely see families who have never had health care in the community [get it] for the very first time at the school-based health centers.”
Mountain Family Health Centers operates clinics at Avon Elementary School, Roaring Fork High School, and Glenwood Springs High School. Rieder said the clinics are part of a broader network of more than 70 school-based health centers in Colorado.
“Because we’re located inside schools, it’s a lot easier access for families and patients,” Rieder said. “We offer not just the medical aspect of healthcare, but also behavioral health and dental health. We don’t turn anyone away regardless of ability to pay.”
The grant comes as the centers report increasing demand for their services. Rieder noted more students are visiting clinics for mental health concerns.
“We are seeing an increase in kids coming in with depression, with anxiety, which makes sense,” Rieder said. “I think the other piece is that kids are feeling more comfortable coming in and talking about their mood changes, and that’s a huge deal. It makes it so much easier to provide the support they need.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of high school students surveyed reported symptoms of depression. Rieder believes the rise in visits may also reflect growing trust and comfort among students seeking help.
School-based health centers also offer convenience for families in rural areas, where accessing care can be difficult.
“When we have them in a school where kids are already attending, it’s that much easier for kids to just pop into the clinic in their off period, to come in between classes,” Rieder said. “In rural areas, where you might have to drive 30 miles to get to the nearest grocery store, having a clinic inside the school makes it a lot easier for families to get healthcare.”
Beyond health care access, research shows school-based clinics can positively impact student outcomes. Rieder cited studies from the National Institutes of Health, noting that such clinics have been shown to improve grades and attendance.
School-based clinics also foster autonomy among students, allowing adolescents to take charge of their health with parental consent but without parents needing to be present at every visit. “It sets the foundation for understanding that it’s important,” Rieder said.
The grant will allow Mountain Family Health Centers to continue providing care to more than 4,000 students, ensuring that these communities maintain access to comprehensive health services.
